Ning Phasing out Free Sites - What Are Your Thoughts?

Today, Ning announced a monumental change in it's business plan. This is good news and bad news. For premium networks, it's probably good news; in that, it's what most premium networks thought they were investing in, in the first place. It will make the premium Ning Networks closer to white label, and likely more valuable assets. It is bad news and extremely sad for some free Ning Networks. Here's an excerpt from the announcement by Ning's CEO - Jason Rosenthal:


When I became CEO 30 days ago, I told you I would take a hard look at our business. This process has brought real clarity to what's working, what's not, and what we need to do now
to make Ning a big success.


My main conclusion is that we need to double down on our premium services
business. Our Premium Ning Networks like Friends or Enemies, Linkin
Park, Shred or Die, Pickens Plan, and tens of thousands of others both
drive 75% of our monthly US traffic, and those Network Creators need and
will pay for many more services and features from us.


So, we are going to change our strategy to
devote 100% of our resources to building the winning product to capture
this big opportunity. We will phase out our free service. Existing
free networks will have the opportunity to either convert to paying for
premium services, or transition off of Ning. We will judge ourselves by
our ability to enable and power Premium Ning Networks at huge scale.
And all of our product development capability will be devoted to making
paying Network Creators extremely happy.

Full Story


New Group: Alternative Solutions to Ning


Please offer and discuss possible solutions, for owners of free Ning Networks. And most of all, let's all offer encouragement to our fellow Ning Network Creators.


UPDATE FROM NING CEO: JASON ROSENTHAL:

ORIGINAL STORY HERE - - Ning Update: Rolling Out Full Details May 4th

Hi Everyone,


As many of you know, we made a decision yesterday to focus 100% of the company on enhancing the features and services we offer to paying Ning Creators. The tens of thousands of you who already use our paid
service represent over 75% of our traffic, and we’ve heard repeatedly
from you ways that we can deliver a killer service to help make your
Ning Network more effective. Some examples of things we are working on
that you’ve asked for include new APIs, a new mobile experience and new
advertising and revenue opportunities.


As part of this change, we’ll be phasing out our free service. On May 4, 2010, we will share with you all of the details of our new offering, including features and price points, through a series of blog
posts, emails, and conference calls. We recognize that there are many
active Ning Networks for teachers, small non-profits, and individuals
and it's our goal to have a set of product and pricing options that will
make sense for all of them. For Ning Creators using our free service who
choose to move to another service, we will off a migration path and
time to make that change. We will still continue to allow free trials
and test networks on the Ning Platform.


We look forward to talking to you further on May 4th.


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Comment by Leah on April 16, 2010 at 9:49am
This is will make you laugh! The Wackwall website, now says "Affected by NING DISASTER?" they have my vote! Check it out, top right corner! Oh and they're adding a Ning migration tool within a week. Now I really have to try them out, lol! Wackwall
Comment by JenSocial on April 16, 2010 at 9:44am
WackWall just announced they're going to try and set up an easy transition program for Ning users.
http://blog.wackwall.com/2010/04/ning-throws-out-free-users-who-cou...
Comment by Healthy Food & Fitness Bargains on April 16, 2010 at 9:24am
Hey...I know that this is a lot of take in at one time. I wish that the decision was different, as when you give a person a chance to have a free network....they bring in their friends, and their friends bring friends, and you are building a community. In that community there are people who will pay for the upgraded features. Free users are valuable...my two networks are free to view. I am still developing a VIP membership for those who want unique and extra benefits...but those who do not want the VIP membership are valuable, because they can still spread the word about the network and bring in their friends..who may become a VIP members.


http://diamondcinema.ning.com
http://gcstylenetwork.ning.com

My company's two networks and sites will stay with Ning.com...so, if anyone wants to stop by..we will be here. We are about to launch a major Spring and Summer cross country tour of 5 of the hottest events in the nation to promote the best we have in the arts, innovation, and entertainment. So, we are going to be here and see what new things Ning.com will offer to the premium members to help us make our presence better for our viewers and members.

Christi
Global Crest Media
Comment by LOVE and LIGHT world on April 16, 2010 at 9:06am
MANY THANKS FOR GREAT HELP...
NOW I AM CREATING MY NEW WEBSITE AND ALL MATERIAL I AM UPLOADING
FROM NING ON THIS
RAMSIEL

http://www.trunity.net/loveandlightworld/


MANY THANKS TO NING FOR HIS GREAT DECISION

MONEY MONEY MONEY

FOR ME TIME IS MONEY !!!!!
Comment by Art Theory and Inspiration on April 16, 2010 at 9:00am
How can we get clear information from Ning? What exactly are the costs? When do we need to make decisions. What will it cost our members? Can we pay without credit cards? How can we get the exact information when policies change like this?
Comment by Code Whacker on April 16, 2010 at 8:52am
Well jen, how many members here? how many totally piss off/ How many solfware developers that have been to damn lazy to write there own software? Jen this could be the start of something new.
Comment by JenSocial on April 16, 2010 at 8:50am
No problem, sorry for the confusion. I do work for them, for free. LOL!
;-)
Comment by Code Whacker on April 16, 2010 at 8:46am
Jen
sorry now I understand I thought you worked for ning. A easy mistake
Comment by Code Whacker on April 16, 2010 at 8:41am
If you resign with other staff I will believe your personal concern, ning has lost my trust and I would not pay was going to for one of my community sites.

If you with us you really have to show it, but at present I am seeing you in a very different light, resign then I will believe you
Comment by JenSocial on April 16, 2010 at 8:39am
Hi Babel Fish,
I don't work for Ning. This site (Jen's Ning Directory) is a 3rd party Ning site, just like all of yours. To be honest, for me, this is what I thought I was buying into, in the first place, white label. When Ning started the cross breeding (friends across all networks), it greatly impacted my white label in a negative way. So, instead of rolling over and dying, I decided to take my knowledge and experience on Ning, and embrace the name "Ning" - - hence the birth of the Ning Directory. To say I've come "full circle" is an understatement. ;-)

I run premium sites, and see both sides of this. Regardless of how it effects my business, I have great compassion for the shock of it all - - as I'm sure most of us feel. Although in the beginning I did not care for the "free" within my "premium", I do not appreciate the idea of "taking free back". My main concern is for non-profits, such as those that deal with disabilities, support groups, victims of violence, victims of abuse, cancer awareness sites, educational sites, environmental sites, and sites that have given many people, a new lease on life...

Babel Fish, I could talk a while. I think my main and immediate thoughts are: DEAR NING, Please provide information to free Ning Network Owners - - like: what constitutes a premium site, and what are the details of the "phasing out free"?

A colleague, friend, and fellow Ning Network Creator has probably covered it the best. Check out his new open letter to the CEO and Founder of Ning:
Open Letter to Ning CEO and Ning Founder

Hang tight friends,
Jen

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